Cricket Controversy that anyone can have an Opinion about - even Americans!
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by user Alex Holowczak
In the fourth Test between England and Pakistan, England scored 173. Pakistan made 528. England's second innings is where the controversy happened.
Pakistan were accused of ball-tampering, a serious offense (not for the first time...). The ball was replaced, as is customry. Paskitan were penalised five runs (again customry). The players went off at tea as normal.
Pakistan felt hard done by. People thought Pakistan were hard done by.
After tea, the England batsman and umpires (Darrel Hair and Billy Doctrove) came out. Pakistan didn't reappear.
Hair has a controversial history. He famously called freak spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing, when he can not actually bowl properly because his arm cannot straighten. He has been the most controversial umpire in the history of the game, and is generally not respected. There was a pitch-side protest then, which was eventually resolved.
The umpires removed the bails and walked off. This, by the letter of the law, is the end of the match. Pakistan forfeit, England win.
But, at 5pm, 1 hour late, Pakistan appeared. The umpires didn't, again declaring the end of the game. Sort of... Staging their own protest.
At which point, the Pakistan team went off.
So - no cricket.
There were then meetings. Play has been abandoned for the day.
Such is cricket, that tomorrow - the final day of the match - is scheduled. No-one knows what is going to happen. Including the fans that have payed to see tomorrow's game.
No-one has any idea what is going on.
Baring all this in mind, and that in over 200 years of professional cricket, no game has ever been forfeited like this, should the game continue tomorrow. For the good of the game? After all, it is not a crucial game.
So the dilemma is, play tomorrow, and overrule the umpires. Or abandon the game, and award it to England, playing away from the traditions of the game.
It's a sad day for cricket...
I would play the game tomorrow but impose a huge penalty on Pakistan, e.g. 200 runs. This would even the game up, and Pakistan would lose all their advantage. It would keep the game alive.
The moral high-ground has viered away from Pakistan now.
I'll add to this as news becomes available. Don't hold your breath...
8pm BST: England and Pakistan are prepared to play tomorrow. The umpires are not. The prospect of either persuading the umpires, or getting new ones is slim. It is unlikely that the match will carry on at this stage.
Date
Sun 08/20/06, 9:55 am EST
